Leading Causes of Death for 72-Year-Olds (2021 CDC Data)
| Cause of Death | Total Deaths |
|---|---|
| Heart Disease | 19,550 |
| Cancer | 18,826 |
| COVID-19 | 10,723 |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease | 4,104 |
| Diabetes | 2,995 |
| Accidents (Incl. Overdoses) | 1,960 |
| Kidney Disease | 1,362 |
| Alzheimer's Disease | 1,192 |
| Septicemia | 1,135 |
| Liver Disease (incl. Cirrhosis) | 1,088 |
| Flu (Non-COVID) | 925 |
| Parkinson's Disease | 885 |
| Suicide | 459 |
| Pneumonitis Due To Solids & Liquids | 394 |
| Nutritional Deficiency | 265 |
| Anemias | 142 |
| Enterocolitis | 127 |
| Peptic Ulcer | 111 |
| Gallbladder Disorder | 102 |
| Viral Hepatitis | 77 |
| Homicide | 69 |
| Congenital Malformations | 68 |
| Hernia | 50 |
| HIV | 35 |
According to the latest CDC data, heart disease and cancer remain the top two leading causes of death for 72-year-olds in the US, with heart disease accounting for 19,550 deaths and cancer accounting for 18,826 deaths in 2021. This is not surprising, as these two diseases have been the leading causes of death for Americans for decades.
However, what is concerning is that COVID-19 has become the third leading cause of death for 72-year-olds, with 10,723 deaths in 2021. This underscores the devastating impact that the pandemic has had on older populations in the US, particularly those with underlying health conditions.
Other notable causes of death for 72-year-olds include chronic lower respiratory disease (4,104 deaths), diabetes (2,995 deaths), and accidents (including overdoses) (1,960 deaths). These causes of death highlight the need for continued efforts to prevent and manage chronic diseases, as well as efforts to address the opioid epidemic.
It is also important to note that certain causes of death, such as suicide (459 deaths) and homicide (69 deaths), may be preventable with appropriate interventions and mental health support. These deaths highlight the need for increased awareness and resources for mental health and suicide prevention.
Overall, the CDC data on causes of death for 72-year-olds highlights the ongoing need for public health interventions to prevent and manage chronic diseases, address the opioid epidemic, and support mental health and suicide prevention efforts.
Top Causes of Death for Age 72 Men
| Cause of Death | Total Deaths |
|---|---|
| Heart Disease | 11,860 |
| Cancer | 10,362 |
| COVID-19 | 6,224 |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease | 2,051 |
| Diabetes | 1,719 |
| Accidents (Incl. Overdoses) | 1,274 |
| Kidney Disease | 708 |
| Liver Disease (incl. Cirrhosis) | 664 |
| Parkinson's Disease | 599 |
| Septicemia | 570 |
| Flu (Non-COVID) | 502 |
| Alzheimer's Disease | 460 |
| Suicide | 378 |
| Pneumonitis Due To Solids & Liquids | 257 |
| Nutritional Deficiency | 138 |
| Anemias | 74 |
| Peptic Ulcer | 69 |
| Gallbladder Disorder | 63 |
| Enterocolitis | 58 |
| Viral Hepatitis | 44 |
| Homicide | 38 |
| HIV | 35 |
| Congenital Malformations | 28 |
| Hernia | 25 |
Analysis of the mortality data for 72-year-old men shows that heart disease and cancer are the top two causes of death, with heart disease resulting in the highest number of deaths (11,860) and cancer being the second leading cause of death (10,362). Other noteworthy leading causes of death include COVID-19 (6,224 deaths), chronic lower respiratory disease (2,051 deaths), diabetes (1,719 deaths), and accidents (including overdoses) (1,274 deaths).
In addition, liver disease (including cirrhosis) resulted in 664 deaths, Parkinson’s disease caused 599 deaths, and septicemia caused 570 deaths, making them amongst the leading causes of death for 72-year-old men. Alzheimer’s disease resulted in 460 deaths, while suicide accounted for 378 deaths, and influenza (non-COVID) resulted in 502 deaths.
Peptic ulcer, viral hepatitis, and homicide were amongst the causes of death for 72-year-old men with fewer deaths. Furthermore, the deaths resulting from hernias, enterocolitis, and congenital malformations were extremely low, with only 25, 58, and 28 deaths respectively.
In summary, heart disease and cancer remain the leading causes of death for 72-year-old men, with COVID-19 also emerging as a significant leading cause of death in 2021. Chronic lower respiratory disease and accidents, including overdoses, were also amongst the leading causes of death for this population.
Common Causes of Death for 72-Year-Old Women
| Cause of Death | Total Deaths |
|---|---|
| Cancer | 8,464 |
| Heart Disease | 7,690 |
| COVID-19 | 4,499 |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease | 2,053 |
| Diabetes | 1,276 |
| Alzheimer's Disease | 732 |
| Accidents (Incl. Overdoses) | 686 |
| Kidney Disease | 654 |
| Septicemia | 565 |
| Liver Disease (incl. Cirrhosis) | 424 |
| Flu (Non-COVID) | 423 |
| Parkinson's Disease | 286 |
| Pneumonitis Due To Solids & Liquids | 137 |
| Nutritional Deficiency | 127 |
| Suicide | 81 |
| Enterocolitis | 69 |
| Anemias | 68 |
| Peptic Ulcer | 42 |
| Congenital Malformations | 40 |
| Gallbladder Disorder | 39 |
| Viral Hepatitis | 33 |
| Homicide | 31 |
| Hernia | 25 |
The mortality data for 72-year-old women shows that cancer is the leading cause of death, accounting for 8,464 deaths in 2021. Heart disease follows closely as the second most common cause of death, with 7,690 deaths reported. COVID-19 is the third most common cause of death, accounting for 4,499 deaths in this group.
Other common causes of death for 72-year-old women include chronic lower respiratory disease (2,053 deaths), diabetes (1,276 deaths), and Alzheimer’s disease (732 deaths). Accidents (including overdoses) are responsible for 686 deaths in this group.
It is noteworthy that certain causes of death, such as suicide (81 deaths), homicide (31 deaths), and nutritional deficiency (127 deaths), while contributing to a smaller number of deaths, still warrant attention from public health officials.
Overall, the data emphasizes the importance of efforts to prevent and manage chronic diseases, particularly cancer and heart disease, for women in this age group. Additionally, efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic and improve mental health resources may help to reduce mortality rates due to these causes.